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Outdoor Store Wildlife Diversity Contact Us
March 2012
Biology Report
Boom Goes the Chicken
The Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation
is working to conserve the lesser prairie chicken in
northwest Oklahoma. Collectively — between the
Wildlife Department, other state and federal agencies,
conservation organizations and industries — over $40
million has been spent on or committed to habitat
management and research efforts that benefit the
lesser prairie chicken.
“The Department
supports responsible
development and is
working toward a shared
goal of keeping the Lesser
Prairie Chicken off the
Endangered Species List,”
said Doug Schoeling,
upland game biologist for
the Wildlife Department.
The lesser prairie chicken,
a unique upland bird
known for it’s “booming”
call during mating, has
experienced population
declines for many years.
The species, found in
northwest Oklahoma, has
struggled to survive in its native habitat due to habitat
fragmentation and land use changes over time.
Lesser prairie chicken recovery efforts fall into three
categories: habitat management, habitat protection
and research.
To encourage habitat management practices that will
aid the native bird, state and federal agencies work
closely with conservation-minded landowners on
habitat projects including cedar control, prescribed
burning, native grass planting and fence marking /
removal.
“Private landowners are key to wildlife conservation
in Oklahoma, since about 95 percent of the land in
Oklahoma is privately
owned,” said Schoeling.
Additionally, the
Wildlife Department
has purchased several
sections of prime
habitat that will provide
permanently protected
areas for lesser prairie
chickens. In the last three
years, over 7,100 acres
in Harper and Woods
counties were purchased
to create Cimarron Hills
and Cimarron Bluff
Wildlife Management
Areas. Packsaddle
and Beaver River, two
other wildlife management areas in Ellis and Beaver
counties, were expanded to include thousands more
habitat acres. These lands are in key portions of the
lesser prairie chicken’s range.
Lesser Prairie Chicken
Gary Kramer, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service

Outdoor Store Wildlife Diversity Contact Us
March 2012
Biology Report
Boom Goes the Chicken
The Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation
is working to conserve the lesser prairie chicken in
northwest Oklahoma. Collectively — between the
Wildlife Department, other state and federal agencies,
conservation organizations and industries — over $40
million has been spent on or committed to habitat
management and research efforts that benefit the
lesser prairie chicken.
“The Department
supports responsible
development and is
working toward a shared
goal of keeping the Lesser
Prairie Chicken off the
Endangered Species List,”
said Doug Schoeling,
upland game biologist for
the Wildlife Department.
The lesser prairie chicken,
a unique upland bird
known for it’s “booming”
call during mating, has
experienced population
declines for many years.
The species, found in
northwest Oklahoma, has
struggled to survive in its native habitat due to habitat
fragmentation and land use changes over time.
Lesser prairie chicken recovery efforts fall into three
categories: habitat management, habitat protection
and research.
To encourage habitat management practices that will
aid the native bird, state and federal agencies work
closely with conservation-minded landowners on
habitat projects including cedar control, prescribed
burning, native grass planting and fence marking /
removal.
“Private landowners are key to wildlife conservation
in Oklahoma, since about 95 percent of the land in
Oklahoma is privately
owned,” said Schoeling.
Additionally, the
Wildlife Department
has purchased several
sections of prime
habitat that will provide
permanently protected
areas for lesser prairie
chickens. In the last three
years, over 7,100 acres
in Harper and Woods
counties were purchased
to create Cimarron Hills
and Cimarron Bluff
Wildlife Management
Areas. Packsaddle
and Beaver River, two
other wildlife management areas in Ellis and Beaver
counties, were expanded to include thousands more
habitat acres. These lands are in key portions of the
lesser prairie chicken’s range.
Lesser Prairie Chicken
Gary Kramer, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service